Late May to early June — after spring ’s shivering is preceding but before summertime ’s heat and humidity have set in – is by nature a time of lush leafage and abundant flower in our Mid - Atlantic gardens . Everything look so good that putting exploit into planning combinations seems almost like “ gild the lily , ” as the expression go . But hey , if you have the opportunity to make something good even ripe , why not go for it ?
High-impact: Chartreuse and purple-blue
Combining sunny yellow leaf with racy blues and purples is a bold way to mark the transition from spring to summer , and there are so many options that it never get deadening . Start with a Paris green - leaved shrub , such as aureate bridal wreath spirea ( Spiraea thunbergii‘Ogon ’ , Zones 4–8 ) or Golden Spirit smoke bush ( Cotinus coggygria‘Ancot ’ , Zones 4–8 ) , as a backdrop . Then fructify a beautiful blue or purple in front of it , perhaps May Night repeated sage ( Salvia×sylvestris‘Mainacht ’ , Zones 4–8 ) or ‘ Blue Ice ’ amsonia ( Amsonia‘Blue Ice ’ , Zones 4–9 ) . The combo above , of Briant Rubidor weigela ( Weigela florida‘Olympiade ’ , Zones 4–8 ) with ‘ Caesar ’s Brother ’ Siberian flag ( Iris sibirica‘Caesar ’s Brother ’ , Zones 3–8 ) is a great example of a bold gold - and - purple pairing with an added fillip : the weigela ’s eye - popping pinkish cherry flowers , which open around the same time as the iris .
On the softer side: Silver with pink
Prefer your combination on the softer side ? There are plenty of pastel around now too , and they pair absolutely with silvery leaf . This cheery - slope partnership features ordinary lamb ’s ears ( Stachys byzantina , Zones 4–8 ) matched with two ground - embrace familiar : creeping thyme ( Thymus praecox‘Coccineus ’ , Zones 4–9 ) and Spanish stonecrop ( Sedum hispanicum , Zones 5–10 ) . In late spring , you get silver surrounded by shade of pinko from the thyme and sedum blossom for a delicate display ; for the rest of the raise season , there ’s a terrific textural line of the bold and goody leaves . I like to utilize the regular dear ’s ears because its foliage is more in scale with the tiny thyme and sedum , but it does require deadheading if seedlings are not desire . You might choose to use larger - leaved ‘ fully grown capitulum ’ ( Stachys byzantina‘Big Ears ’ , syn . ‘ Helene von Stein ’ , Zones 4–9 ) instead , because it is much less likely to flower and therefore needs less maintenance .
Keeping it cool: Green with white and silver
former springiness mostly mark the remainder of the end of the most spectacular time of year in shady gardens , but these areas can still make an impingement once summer comes , particularly if you create compounding that look good now and through the relief of the time of year as well . That means foliation should be a key feature article , contributing interesting colors or contrasting textures — or both , ideally ! This group focuses on cool greens , white , and silver from dependable tad - garden favorites : white - marked variegate Solomon ’s Navy SEAL ( Polygonatum odoratumvar.pluriflorum‘Variegatum ’ , Zones 3–8 ) , bright green ostrich fern ( Matteuccia struthiopteris , Zones 3–7 ) , silverish ‘ White Nancy ’ spotted dead nettle ( Lamium maculatum‘White Nancy ’ , Zones 3–8 ) , and white - despoil Nipponese green goddess sedge ( Carexmorrowii‘Variegata ’ , Zones 5–9 ) . With the refined interplay of the dissimilar leafage SHAPE and patterns , the tardy - springiness accession of blanched flower from the Solomon ’s sealing wax and spot dead nettle is a adorable bonus feature film .
All of these plants are well - beseem to the Mid - Atlantic region , so feel free to use these time - tested combos as presented or as inspiration for your own late - springtime groupings .
Nancy J. Ondra is the writer of over fifteen book , includingGrasses , The Perennial Care Manual , andThe Perennial Matchmaker .
hunky-dory Gardening advocate production
Gardener ’s Supply Company Summerweight Fabric Plant Cover
hunky-dory Gardening receives a perpetration for items buy through links on this internet site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertizing program .
Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade , impinge Shovel
Wagner ’s 52003 Classic Blend Wild Bird Food , 6 - Pound dish
Get our latest point , how - to articles , and instructional video send to your inbox .
Signing you up …
Related Articles
How to Spruce Up Containers for Fall
Late-Summer Combinations
Keep an Eye Out for Allium Leafminer
No-Fail Primroses
bring together Fine horticulture for a costless plight springy webinar boast Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical manager …
When I spotted a finical grit dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I experience I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …
When we only prioritise plants we want over plants our landscape needs , each season is filled with a never - ending inclination of task : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , ameliorate , and fertilizing , with …
Subscribe today and save up to 47%
Video
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat
You must be measured when you get into the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a couplet …
4 Midsummer Favorites From a Plant Breeder’s Garden
Episode 181: Plants You Can’t Kill
Episode 180: Plants with Big, Bold Foliage
4 Steps to Remove Invasive Plants in Your Yard
All Access members get more
Sign up for afree trialand get access to ALL our regional subject matter , plus the rest of the member - only subject matter depository library .
set about Free Trial
Get complete web site entree to expert advice , regional contentedness , and more , plus the mark cartridge clip .
Start your FREE tryout
Already a member?enter
Briant Rubidor weigela and ‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris. Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
Lamb’s ears, creeping thyme, and Spanish stonecrop. Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
Ostrich fern (top), variegated Solomon’s seal (center), Japanese grass sedge (bottom left), and ‘White Nancy’ spotted dead nettle (bottom right). Photo: Nancy J. Ondra
